First Day

I returned to uni today, after almost 4 months off. Funny how when you're away from something it can be the furthest thing from your mind, then when you get back it's like you've never been away. It was nice to see everyone again, and to get back into the swing of things. Today was Surgical- we basically learnt how to wash our hands! Well, it was gowning and gloving, for when you're in theatre or need to do an aseptic procedure. Something that would have been handy last year! Oh well, at least we've covered it properly now, so I'll be able to confidently open sterile packs in the correct way.

The kids were back in the thick of it again today as well. I had to leave home at 6.30am, so Brett's dad took them to school. It means waking them early so they can be ready before Brett leaves at 7.15am. Declan still needs so much prodding and reminding to get ready, to put his shoes on... everything really. Then they went to After School Care this afternoon and I picked them up at 5pm. At least now they are old enough to not need to be asleep by 7.30pm, so it's not a terrible rush to get dinner over with when we get home. Tomorrow I can take them to school, and Thursdays and Fridays they are taken by either my father in law or a friend. They're in after care tues-fri. At least it's only until June, so don't feel too bad. My semester 2 timetable looks better.

Ruby has been put in the Reading Recovery Programme. It's for kids who are having trouble with reading, like an early intervention. The school has a teacher who is there just for that, and each child on the programme gets a half an hour lesson, one to one, everyday for 20 weeks. I was so pleased when they told me she was doing it, I was quite worried about her reading. Now, after just 2 weeks she is blossoming. Last night she read 2 of her little readers to me and I almost cried, it was amazing to hear the confidence and pride in her voice. I never expected any of the kids to struggle with reading- I was reading by the age of 3, and I read all the time. The boys both were reading before they started school, especially Declan who pretty much skipped kindergarten reading level. Not through any particular effort from me (or good parenting!) but it just came easily to them. Ruby has had the same amount of books read to her, the same exposure to reading, but it has taken longer for her to 'get it'. We are so lucky to have a school system that proactively recognises these kids and deals with it early. After she completes the 20 weeks, the teacher follows her through the next 3 years to make sure she stays on track.

Declan's birthday next week! I cannot believe he is going to be 9. God help us, that is half way to adulthood!